Tiltable vessel



March 1, 1932. c. c. PARRISH TILTABLE VESSEL Filed Feb. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet March 1, 1932. 1 C, PARRlsH l 1,847,782

TILTABLE' VESSEL Filed Feb. 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5% www vrzo Patented Mar. 1, 1932 CEGIL c. Immersa,- or. DoNonA, mnmsxnvanI. A`

" TILTABLE VESSEL Application Vled'February 28,1931. Serial No. 519,129.

This invention relates to av safety lautomatic leveling device for tilting vessels or furnaces and is particularly adapted forjapplication tometal mixers used in the production of Bessemer and open hearth steel'.` i i WVhen pouring from the usual type of metal mixer or furnace as heretofore constructed,

should the tilting motors orgmechanism refuse to functionVdue'zto powerfailurdfor example,V or should the operator suddenly become incapacitated', the vesselwould rem-ain in a tilted position for va certain length 'of time until righted or until it coul-d be placed in condition to be further tilted to resume thel pouring operation,VV and during this time the metal issuingv from they pouring spout would freeze.` In attempting to place the mixer in condition to lresume pouring While the mixer was ina tilted position, the Workmen were' nlaced'in a hazardous position enclin-manyinstances serious accidents would occur as Well asa loss of time andl labor.

The present invention has been designed With a View toward eliminating the 4foregoing hazards and losses by providing'means which operates automatically to'l right" .or level the vessel or furnace the instant the tilting mechanism ceases to function due to' causes over which the operator-has no control, or should the operator suddenly `becomeY incapacitated an d' release vthe controls.' In its preferred form, the `improveddevice utilizes a combination switch andv drive-reversing mechanism includinga counteriveight which is connected up and operates in eonjunction with the tilting mechanism'. `It1vvillbeun derstood', however, that obvious modifications in structure and design may be adopted With` out departing from-the scope of the inten tion as defined by "thespecication and appended claims.-

ln the drawings z y Y Y F'gure 1 is a view in transverse vertical section and' elevation of a conventional type of metal mixer with the imp'rovedautoma-tic levelingy device operatively connectedup therewith".

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation with the 'eoimterweight mechanism omitted.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an electrical circuit for the switch-operating mechanism.

The reference numeral 5 Vgenerally desig notes the mixer or vessel which, as shownys o f the' conventional tilting type made up 0f-k riveted steel plate'V to 'form an outer shell which is lined with silica or lire bricln molten iron being poured into the'mixer through an opening (i and poured therefrom througha spoutiopeningi 7. The? vessel issupported yon basel membersl 8 on which bearinggrolls. Qare mounted,` annular'railsor tracks 10 being formed partially' around'the vessel and-hav# ing movementon' said rolls. I

The vessel ormixer', as here shown, is tiltedby. means of arms or' levers 12 lwhich are piv-4 otally; connected at one end to the rails for tracks 10 and at theiropposite ends to guide blocks l13I adapted to travel in .trackways14,` the blockslrbei'ng reciprocated by lath'readed engagement with screws 15,V which are mounted. inbeari'ngs 16 andh'a've secured onl the ends thereof bevelv gears 17. Extending longitudinally of the mixer on' oneside thereof isa shaft 1S 'whichv is flexibly coupled and PATENT OFFICE provided with'bevel .pinions'19 adapted toj v mesh With the gears 17, power being applied to said shafttlrrou'gh the medium of one or more motors 20'supported on a base or bases" 21at one' or both'endsV of the vessel or along the lengthfofsaidshaft. 7 i e l TheY improved automatic levelling 'mecha-v nism as shown" in thel present instance depends upon a` counterweight 22 for overhauling or reversing the drive on the tilting mechanism and. righting the vessel, saidA Weight being suspended from a' pin or shaft 23 on which a sheave 24 is mounted. Above the sheave 24eis another sheave 25 which is supported from beams 26 by means of hangerlbrackets 27, n Theweight 22 may be gud.- by vertically extending columns or beams 28, and a bumper 29 and'spring y30 are provided at the base of the structure to cushion the weight. and mechanism against sudden lowering movement. Y I* l A cable drum 31 is mounted at one side of the vessel or mixer on a countershaft 32'Which is supported on Y bearing pedestals 33. said drum being provided'with a gear 34 adapted to mesh with a pinion secured on the shaft 18. A cable 36 is attached at one end to the drum 31 and passes around guide sheaves 37 and 38 and sheaves 25 and 24.

It will be seen that when the shaft 18 is driven in one direction to tilt the mixer or vessel 5, the drum 31, which is geared to said shaft, is rotated land the counterweight 22 "raised, and as the vessel moves back to normal netic switch or electrical contactor 41 beingy interposed in this circuit so that the Alatter may vbe closed kwhen desired and thevmotor circuit energized ready for operation.

connected to the line by Wires 42 and 42. and the wires which supplythe magnetic brake are indicated at 43 and 43', a magnetic switch or contactor being also interposed in this circuit at 44. vThe wires which lead to the contactor 41 are indicated at 45 and 45,', and this circuitl is normally held open by a master switch 46, and the wires which lead to the contactor 44 are indicated at 47 and 47 and likewise this latter circuit is normally held open by a masterV switch 48.

It will be seen that when the master switch 46 is closed, the contactor 41 becomes energized and the circuit which suppliesthe tilting motors is closed, and when master switch 48 is closed, the contactor 44 becomes energized and the magnetic brake circuit is closed.

Master switches A46 and 48 may be of any standard type which are heldin contact by .the operator and automatically thrown to the off position when released. These switches are shown diagrammatically in Fig-- ure 3. The switch 46 is shown as a foot pedal `switch with a spring return, and the switch 48 is shown as a hand operated spring return switch.

The operation of the mechanism is Vas follows: il I Assuming the vessel or mixer 5 to be in a level position ready for pouring, the operator steps on a foot pedal or actuates in any suitable manner'the master switch 46 and the magnetic switch or contactor 41 closes the circuit 40, 40', which supplies the control feeders or tilting motors. The regular controllers forthe tilting motors are then operated and the vessel or mixer 5 is tilted to pouring position, the revolving cable drum 41 raising counterweight 22.

Vlien the vessel reaches the desired pouring position, the operatior moves the controls for the tilting motors to neutral position yand actuates master switch 48, thus energizing contactor 44 and closing the brake circuit 43, 43 and setting the brake 39, thereby preventing the counterweight 22 from overhauling the drum 31 and leveling the vessel before pouring is completed. lVhen pouring is completed, thel operator releases master switch 48, deenergizing the brake circuit and releasing brake 39. The counterweight 22 then overhauls the tilting mechanism and returns the vessel to alevel position.

' In case of power failure or should the operator suddenly become incapacitated while the vessel is in a pouring or semipouring position, all circuits automatically open `and the counterweight returns the vessel to a level position. f

. That I claim as new is 1. The combination With a tiltable vessel, ofvtilting mechanism therefor, means foropy erating said mechanism to tilt the vessel, and t The switch and magnetic brake circuit isv means for automatically returning the vessel to a level position upon failure of said operating means.- y I f 2. The combination with a tiltable vessel, of tilting mechanism-therefor, means for operating said mechanism totilt the vessel, and

`interposed means which acts against tilting movement of said vessel, theaction thereof being such as to overhaul said tilting mechanism when the latter is rendered inoperative and return the vessel to aflevel position. n

3. The combination with a tiltable vessel, of tilting mechanism therefor, positively applied controls for transmitting power to said tilting mechanism, and means for returning said vessel` to a level position upon release of said controls.

4. The combination with atiltable vessel, of electrically .operated tilting mechanism therefor, positively applied controls for transmitting current to said operating mechanism, and means for returning said vessel to a level position upon release of said controls.

5. The combination with a tiltable pouring vessel, of electrically operated tilting mechanism therefor, the electric circuit being normally open, positively applied switches for closing the circuit and tilting said vessel to a pouring position, and means for returning said vessel to a level position upon interruption to said circuit. Y Y y 6. The combination with a tiltable vessel, of tilting mechanism therefor, a brake for holding said vessel in tilted position, and means for returning said vessel to a level Vposition upon release Vof said brake.

7. The combination with a tiltable vessel, of motor-driven tilting mechanism therefor, a brake for holding said vessel in a tilted posisaid brake, positively applied switches for' closing said circuit, and a means for returning said vessel to a level position when said circuit is opened and said brake is released.

8. The combination with a tiltable vessel, of motor-driven tilting mechanism therefor, an electrically operated brake for holding said vessel in tilted position, an electric circuit for transmitting power to a motor energized thereby for driving said mechanism and setting said brake, magnet-ic contactors interposed in said circuit, positively7 applied switches for energizing said contactors and closing said circuit, and means for reversing the drive of said tilting mechanism when the switches are released and the circuit opened.

9. The combination with a tiltable vessel, of tilting mechanism therefor, means for operating said mechanism, and a counterweight for overhauling said tilting mechanism when the latter is rendered inoperative and returning the vessel to a level position.

10. The combination with a tiltable vessel, of tilting' mechanism thereforV including a drive shaft, means for driving said shaft in one direction to tilt the vessel, and means for applying a reverse drive to said shaft when the tilting drive is rendered inoperative.

11. The combination with a tiltable vessel, of tilting mechanism therefor including a drive shaft, means for driving said shaft in one direction to tilt the vessel, a cable drum geared to said'shaft, anda counterweight attached to said cable for reversing the drive on said shaft when the tilting drive is rendered inoperative.

12. The combination with a tilting type molten metal vessel, of means for tiltingY said vessel to discharge the metal, said means including a shaft and an electric motor for operating said shaft, an electrically energized brake for holding said vessel in tilted position, and counterweight means for cooperating with said shaft for automatically returning the vessel to level position upon the deenergization of said motor and said brake.

13. The combination with a tilting type molten metal vessel, of means for tilting said vessel to discharge the metal, said means including a shaft and an electric motor for operating said shaft, an electrically energized brake for holding said vessel in tilted position, a drum on said shaft, a counterweight, a cable connected to said drum and said connterweight, said drum being rotatable to take up said cable and lift said counterweight when said shaft is operated to tilt said vessel, and said counterweight being adapted to automaticallyT lower and return said vessel to level position upon the deenergization of said motor and said brake. Y

14. The combination with a tilting type molten metal contain-er, of means for tilting said vessel, and a counterweight for returning said vessel to level position.

15. The combination with a tilting type molten metal container, of means for tilting said vessel, and a vertical lift counterweight for returning said vessel to level position.

16. The combination with a tilting'type molten metal container, of electrically operated means for tilting said container, a vertical lift lcounterweight for returning said vessel to level position'when said tilting means is deenergized, said tilting means lifting said counterweight as said container is tilted.

17. The combination with a tilting molten metal container, of means for tilting said container including a power shaft, an electric motor for operating said shaft, an electrically energized brake for holding said container in tilted position, a vertical lift counc terweight adapted to return said container to level position upon deenergization of said motor and said'brake, and means operable by said power shaft for lifting said counterweight when said containeris tilted.

18. The combination with a tilting molten metal container, of means for tilting said container including a power shaft, an electric motor for operating said shaft, an electrically energized brake for holding said container in tilted position, a vertical lift counterweight adapted to return said container to levelpositionupon deenergization of said motor and said brake, a drum on'said power shaft, and

a cable connected to the drum and the coun- '5,

terweight, said drum being adapted to take up the cable and lift the counterweight when said container is tilted.l

VIn testimony whereof, I have hereuntoset my hand.

CECIL C. PARRISH. 

